Control system and carriage moving means for flying cutoff apparatus



April 13; 1954 H A BlLLETTER 2,675,076

CONTROL SYSTEM AND CARRIAGE MOVING MEANS FOR FLYING CUTOFF APPARATUS Filed Aug. 15, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet I INVENTOR HALTUN A. BILLETTER ATTOR EY April 13, 1954 H. A. BILLETTER 2,675,076

CONTROL SYSTEM AND CARRIAGE MOVING MEANS FOR FLYING CUTOFF APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 15, 1951 mvsmox. HALTON A BILLETTER ATTORNEY April 13, 1954 H; A. BILLETTER 2,675,076

CONTROL SYSTEM AND CARRIAGE MOVING MEANS FOR FLYING CUTOFF APPARATUS Filed Aug. 15, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 NH If 6 w INVENTOR HALTON A BILLETTER ATTORNEY April 13, 1954 H. A. BILLETTER 2,675,076

' CONTROL SYSTEM AND CARRIAGE MOVING MEANS FOR FLYING CUTOFF' APPARATUS Filed Aug. 15, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 92 Enventor HALTON A BILLETTER F Wf- April 13, 1954 I H. A. BILLETTER 75,076

CONTROL SYSTEM AND CARRIAGE MOVING MEANS FOR FLYING CUTOFF' APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 15, 1951 INVENTOR HALTON' A BILLETTER ATTORNEY April 1954 H. A. BILLETTER 2,675,076

CONTROL SYSTEM AND CARRIAGE MOVING MEANS FOR FLYING CUTOFF APPARATUS Filed Aug. 15, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR HALTON A BILLETTER -B Y w f ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 13, 1954 CONTROL SYSTEMAND oA RIAoEMovmG MEANS FOR FLYING CU'I'OFF APPARATUS HaltonxAa Billetter; Youngstowinxflhim; assignon to TheMcKay Machine Compan Youngstownr, Ohio, at corporation-of Ohio Application'A'ugust '15, 1951; Serial No. 2412918 control systems for? effecting precisely timed se quential actuations" of. various" essential components" of the? completev cut-off assembly; The principal object. of *thesapparatus of the invention is to 'increaseitheeaccuracy-"of operational results of flying cut-offseof :the kind mentioned while at a the sameutime maintaining simplicity I in adjust 1 merits required duringrnormal; operation; and re taining high versatility'in'the-apparatus; Also,- the invention seeks: to providewin apparatus of the character mentioned havina'the' highly=de-- sirable characteristics enumerated, improveddegrees of ruggedness; durability-and safety inoperation so thati'the-rapparatus may; in general; operate over long 'periodsaof time with littleor no attention'sin effectingextreme accuracy-inthe cutting-of continuous movingstock into predetermined lengths.

While many differentupartingvz tools have'heretofore been proposed in flying cut ofil. machines-, it is generally recognizedthatzmotary lathe-type cutting; tools-are best suitedcvforr metali pipe and tubing because of i the: cleann'ess of cut but such apparatus is quite heavy "andaunwieldy and heretofore no entirelyv satisfactory method has" been devised to effect the required reciprocatory cycle of to movement of the apparatus 1 including "a quick initial acceleration at'oasynchronism iwith fithex aidvancing 1 tube or' pipe: and thereafter: asyn'chro izrolaimst (o1. 164 60) wardtraveliof theutube:. ThGTlIIVBIltiOH also resides in improved control instrumentalities Whereby thee extending free length .l of stock clamped may: be: very. precisely. predetermined 5 and controlledw and whereby the sequencing: of actuation ofitheacceleratingz means, clamping meanstand stockmarting:meansxm'ay becontrolled with consis-tentmicrosecond accuracygt whereby uniform nous; movement" tl ieresiritlrrv fon'a length off time i sufficient to. part ithGJStOCki. The: present inven time, however, solves this problem: by improved mechanisms fort movingthe cut-off. carriage through its reciproeatorys cycle; as: required The last mentioned'lresult i's accomplished-' bythis invention primarily byeemploying almechanical accelerating; device operated from and/or: synchronously with: the: stock ;.propelling:t*means: oi, the tube=millor otherprocessing apparatus with whichv the cut-off assembly, issrassociated in combination with means on: the movable; cut ofir carriage; to rigidly; clamp V the. advancing 1-sto'ckr to:

results are obtained and av maximum "part of the i total time of the reciprocatory: cycle :is 1 available Contributing forthe. actual parting operation. to the: latter result. is also an improved" arrangement for unclamping thewcut-ofie carriage from the stock and'returning thecarriageback to its initial starting position at-theendlof reach cutting stroke:

The; improved control system of the apparatus 10f this invention inherently provides a simplified adjustment for compensatingior relative changes inoperationalttimetdelay inherent in all control minedsinterval of timev as-for example thatvree quiredtoeffectvfu-ll actuation'of a movable initiating; lever forv the mechanical I accelerating means iollowingtclose of; contacts of an initiating switch.

The present 1 invention combines .and assembles the, various control, instrumentali ties in suchmannerlthat such relative time variations may be compensatedfor simply and directly by moving a"targetwswitch outwardly or. inwardly alongthe.

pathv of; travel. taken by, the; advancing stock.

Through the use of this featureand of other features. ofythe. controlsystem tolbe' described iindetail below it is possible, after proper adjustment, to obtain much greater. consistent accuracy in the length of the stocki'pieces cutofithan has heretofore been possiblein any, comparable apparatus.

the carriage immediately upon: the carriage: at

tainingsthe-same speed; as the:stock= so thata'the; parting; tool or: tools employed -can1: funetion: prop erly and effectively during a short interval of out The above an'dother objects. and advantages of" the, invention will :become apparent upon consideration' of. the following detailed specification and the"accompanying"drawing wherein the prefei'red'embordiinent of "the invention is fully dis- In the drawing;

Figure 1 is" a fragmentary side elevation of fly ing cut-off apparatus constructed" in accordance with theteachings ofmy invention;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary top view of carriage j return means associated with the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 12 is a schematic representation of the hydraulic and pneumatic control elements of the apparatus of my invention together with certain electrical elements associated therewith; and

Figure 13 is a schematic representation of the electrical control system of the invention.

In the various figures the reference numeral I denotes a basemember which is disposed 'centrally and longitudinally beneath the pass line of, for example, a continuous tube welding mill.

Mounted upon the base I0 is a carriage l I which is adapted for longitudinal to and fro movement along the base. To anti-frictionally mount the carriage l I for such movement I have provided a plurality of relatively heavy shafts I2 which are transversely disposed in the carriage II in longitudinally spaced relation and which support at their outer ends dolly wheels I3. The wheels I3 are supported in eccentric relation to-the axis of the shafts I2 as shown in Figure 3. By this means I provide vertical adjustment of the carriage II with respect to the base I0 through rotation of the shafts I2. To effect rotation of the shafts I2 an elongated shaft I4 is rotatably journaled in longitudinally disposed relation to the carriage II and in tangency with each of the shafts i2.'

As shown in Figure 2 the shaft I4 is threaded at spaced intervals [5 to engage, in worm gear manner, suitable helical gear teeth I6 provided in the shafts I2. Any suitable means, not shown, may be utilized to rotate the shaft I4 as may be desired. It will be noted that the arrangement herein described for effecting vertical adjustment of the carriage I I is such that a minimumweight is raised and lowered. Thus the cumbersome mechanisms heretofore employed are eliminated and ease of adjustment is maintained.

Rigidly secured to the carriage II, substantially centrally thereon, is a housing I! in which 7 is rotatably journaled, by means of anti-friction bearings I8, the rotary cutting means of the apparatus. Supported directly by the'bearings I3 is a rotary housing I9 which has an enlarged tool supporting head at its outer end. A Worm Wheel 21 is keyed to the rotary housing i9 axially intermediate the bearings I8 and is adapted to engage a worm gear,.not shown, which is operated by a vertically mounted variable speed motor 22 secured to the housing H as shown in Figure l. The enlarged outer end 26 of the rotary housing I 9 is partially enclosed by an end cap23 which retains, in radially slidable manner, one or more mounting blocks 24 to which are secured cutting tools 25. Positioned within the rotary housing I9 and slidably keyed thereto is a sleeve 26 the outer end of which is enlarged to engage the inner wall of the outer end portion of the rotary housing I9. As shown a bell cranl;

4 lever 21 is pivotally secured to the end cap member 23 and has a leg connecting the tool mounting block 24 and the enlarged outer end of the slidable sleeve 26. It should thus be apparent that longitudinal movement of the sleeve 26 within the housing I9 will cause related movement of the-tool 25 in a radial'direction. To provide such longitudinal movement of the sleeve 26 I secure the inner race member of a suitable "thrust-resisting anti-friction bearing 28 to the inneror. left handend of the sleeve. A yoke 29 is secured to the outer race of the bearing 28 and is also connected to the pistons of a pair of hydraulic actuators 36 which are mounted in diametrically opposed relation on a frame 3! whichis in turn rigidly secured to the carriage I I. As shown in Figure 12 the fluid circuit for the actuators 30 includes an accurately adjustable needle valve 32 which is operative to control the rate of forward movement of the yoke 29 and hence the rate of feed of the cutter 25. A bypass check valve 33 provides for maximum rate of return movement of the yoke by'shunting the needle valve 32.

In order to securely clamp the pipe or tubing, not shown, forsevering by the cutter 25 I provide a second-sleeve 34 which is positioned within the sleeve 26 and adapted for sliding movement only with respect to the main housing I1. To prevent the sleeve from rotating, a collar 35 is secured thereto in any suitable manner. Trunnions, not shown, extend outwardly of the collar 35 at each side thereof and are engaged by a lever 35 which ispivotally secured at its upper end to the frame 3i and at its lower end to the piston of a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator 31. -Retained within the sleeve 34 and rigidly secured to the frame 3| by means of a flanged-coupling 38 is a collet member 39. As shownin Figure 2, the collet 39 is flared outwardly at its forward'end and is conventionally provided with aplurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinal slots. As may be understood, movement of the sleeve 34 in the forward direction, in response to the admission of pressure into the actuator 31, will compress the flared forward end of the collet to thus firmly grip a tube positioned therein.

Additional means for gripping a tube is positloned. forwardly of the cutting tool 25 and comprises a frame 44, collet 40, longitudinally slidable sleeve 4|, collar 42, and lever 43 arranged substantially as above described and operated by a fluid actuator'45. As shown in Figure 12, the actuators 31 and 45' are operated simultaneously by means of a four-way control valve 56.

' Thus it may be observed that with a tube securely clamped within the collets 39 and 40,- the cutter 25 may be rotated relative thereto while moving inwardly in response to the accurately controlled forward movement of the sleeve 26.

It will be understood that in the severing of continuously advancing stock into predetermined lengths it is necessary to'employ means external of the stock itself but associated therewith for accelerating the carriage II from rest into synchronism with the stock in order that it may be properly clamped thereto for the cutting operation. It is further necessary, from the standpoint of commercial feasibility, that such means be of a highly accurate nature to insure'uniformity of length of the severed stock. To this end I have provided a novel arrangement which is motivated by the rolls of the tube welding mill to sired.

thus obtain precisely synchronized motion as dei Shown irnFi'gures d'and 6- -is my -novelarrange merit-which :comprisessa st'andMJ i which is-po'si tioned outward'ly of thse pass line of thelstoclc substantially-in alignment -with i the: axis of rolls d8- oithe last stand ofthe *millg not shown, which s conventionally in-cludes means toi driver the rolls 7' 48-synclrironously xvi-th thermovementuofr theitub'e through the welding mill. A l gear box- 49;: is mounted f securely onithei stand 41 andzisi operas tively connected to oneiof therrolls laiby rmeansi 1c of shaft 5lll A" second geartbox" 5 it is? positioned: forwardly 'of the'ifirst and also outwardly of the: pass line as *shown Connectingrthei gear? boxes Q9 and 5 I through universal :joints= 52tandl53wis=tar shaft em Extending inwardly of thezlatteri gear box :51 andlconnectedithereto" isaa shaft 54-.=which carriesat its. free: end thez driving member of a single :revoiutiomclutch 55. Theldriven? member: ofi= thew-clutched isiconnectedithrough shaft to:

a driving'iarm 5] "whichiextendsiradially-from zthel. e

shaft 56 and which :carries .inean'itssradiallyt out;

ward". end an": anti-frictionallyc mounted follower wheel With the'carriagetl 2| cat :rest in :its rears wardly retracted position, and with the; driving arm 51in .a horizontally. disposedrrearwardly:ex- 5 tended position .as shown in 'Figure'fi, thetwheelifmv isi-icaused. to bear againstthetverticalrend face. of I a driving .block .59 which is rigidly secured to, and extends. rearwardlyr'of the'l-carriagerl Ia As may beiunderstood rotationxof the -armt5l inx azcounrten-clockwise or downwardioirectionithrough: a i 90 degree am .will cause axharmonic :acceleration. of the carriage! I from. rest tor-avelocity equalsto thatof the axis ofithe wheelLEB; Accordingly, it

will be, further: understoodthatby proper 'selectionof gearing in the gear boxes All-and '5llmay provide that the arm 1 57 bel'rotatediat such speed asto cause the axis of thecwheelfiB. to;.traveliat a velocity, in exact accord with the linear advance of the stock Thus: when thearmvalQhaserotated 40 through antarctof 901degrees; asshown inliigure 10, the carriage I llwilllbein precise. synchronism with the forwardly moving stock and: may be? readily clamped thereto for the cutting operation.

The utilization of my arrangement for. produc-- ing harmonic acceleration-as describedabove is1 particularly advantageous, iniapparatus: of; this type wherein the moving elementl-is relatively heavy and accordingly-high inertia reaction is ens countered. With my arrangement acceleration of the carriage ismaximum atthevbeginningiof movement, andis gradually reduced to zero as the. drivingnarm 5"! moves into, the vertical ,pOSitlOn'A Atthe same time themechanical advantage of. thearm 571' is greatestas it begins to 'move downwardly; graduallydiminishing, tounity atthel vertical position. Thus thelarge inertiarforces, of the carriage are effectively compensated for by a correspondingly high mechanical advantage of the drivinglimeans.

In order to insure accuracy and uniformity in the length of stockto be cut it is ofcourse neces. sary to provide an extremely accurate means of engaging, the single revolution clutch 55 to. i start the downward :movement of :thexarm 51 Forthis A purpose I haveuprovideda conventional clutch 6 same outwardlywf the step- 152" tic-engage the 'w 6 clutch 55? as desired'il Itlw ill of; courseebemnders: stoodi that thel lever: 63 is 1'61'68236d7' onlysmomene tari'ly so that: theestepi this. again engaged after:

a single revolution: toareleases the: clutch.

T01: control a the: actuator 66 I provide" a fluid valvetfi which is operated; bya clutch release solenoidrififliinzresponse :to apredetermined move merit ofItlie-tubetstock as'will be apparent.

Secured tto thesfortvard end of the base :lilvancl...

extending upwardly; therefrom is a mounting; bracket 681 which carriesat its upper: endzra lon gitu-dinallys extending-:1 beamwBQ. Supporting, the: beam: at its outer: end isa stanchion l0; As shown inn-Figures 1 andl; mounted slidably atop :the.

beamrBQais-a secondabeam =1 l to which a is secured 1 aflaglswitchf l2; Anzoperator 13 for thefiag: switch extendsyoutwardly and downwardly therea from-"to lie-i incthe linetiof advance of thestoclr. Thus it will be apparent that stock passing; through the collets '39 and 40 will move outwardly of 1theebase l 0: and subsequently into contact zw-ith thecoperator 13: of the switch 12; Through the intermediary'oi relay lit the flag switch 12 is operativetoenergize:the. clutch release solenoid.

61 tot initiate; movement of: the? carriage H In 1 this respect itmaybedesirable to utilize 116. power to energize:the-relay l6 and solenoid 61 to thus minimizeoneliminate time lag-variations and the: resultant i inaccuracies caused thereby; In the present illustration-relay iii-is energized by a t D. vC. power circuit .comprisingmonductors l l-lT to y 123 inclusive and normally closed contacts of r relays 98- and I881 To permit longitudinal adjustment of the :opi erator. is the beam: 7 I- is longitudinally slidable with respect to *thetbeam 16.91 As-shown :insl rigum 1 a motor T1 is mounted on-the bracket Y58 and operates through a; reduction: gear to rotate a screw which is threadedly connectedwith the movable. beam 7 I. Motorl'lluis arranged to be one ergized, in opposite directions as desired; by a suitable controhnotishown; positioned at a con trol pulpit, also not'shown, .andin-the usual in stallation a-SelsynI indicators is provided atz'the control pulpit to indicate the position ofthextargetl3 at=any particular time. The selsyndgene orator-maybe: arranged tube driven bythe output 7 screw of r the reductiongear 781 while the Selsyn: motor is located at-the control pulpittoidrivea: similar screw which in turn drives a slidahle pointer: associated with a suitable :scale.

IlirOIdGlv to supportthe free end of the tubing during; an'diafter the :cutting: operation I provide a rotatableshaft I l which is: retained in the bracket 68" and stanchion l8:- Carriers are secured :to the shaftl l-at spaced intervals to thus support the tube stock as it moves forwardly of the. base 10. Forldisposing ofv the severed lengths of stock a fluid cylinder: 79 is'secured to the bracket68-and connectedto a lever 88 whichextendsiradially 1 from the shaft 16: Control means including valveill, solenoid 82and'timer 83:00- operatively; operate upon completion of a cutting operation and retraction of the carriagewl l to 'ac tuate the. cylinder-"79, rotate theshaft l and time cause? the severedrlengthof tubingto rolloff fthez carriers 15.:

Toinsure final precise controlioverthe length of: the stock pieces beingcut'l provide anabutn merit 18:1 which'is carried bytheouter end of the piston'rod of'acylinder H6 Whlchds adapted to be engagedby the leading endofthestock piece to' be'severede Uponbottoming ofthe' pist'on in the cylinder! l5 the-tube beingcutwiIlmove-to a positive step" relative the carriage whereby the distance between the leading end of the tube and the cutting tools will be uniform in successive operations. A spring, not shown, normally maintains the abutment 84 in extended position and the construction and operation of this assembly is like that of the abutment assembly described in U. S. Patent No. 2,326,463 to D. A. Johnston. Also, as shown in said patent, the abutment 84 and associated cushioning cylinder is carried by a longitudinally slidable shaft 85 which is supported on the roller 85 and which extends out of the carriage assembly II. As explained in the above mentioned patent the shaft 85 is rocked as the carriage reaches its outer limit of travel by a suitable cam arrangement to thereby move the abutment 84 out of the path of travel of the stock so that upon reversal of movement of the carriage the stock may-continue its forward movement.

For returning the carriag I I to its normal retracted position at the end of a cutting operation I provide a relatively long-stroke pneumatic cylinder 83 which is securely mounted within the base member I 0. The piston rod 89 of the cylinder carries a pinion gear 90' at its outer end, which gear is adapted to enmesh with a rack 9| mounted securely on the base I0, and a rack 92 which depends from the movable carriage II as shown in Figure 3. Air is admitted to the forward end of the cylinder 88 at high pressure through the valve 93 and at low pressure through the valve 94. As will be more readily apparent upon consideration of the control system of my apparatus, high pressure air is admitted to the cylinder 88 at the end of a cutting operation to cause the carriag II to quickly return to its retracted position. Upon the carriage nearing its fully retracted position, a limit switch 95 is tripped causing the valve 93 to close shutting off the supply of high pressure air. The carriage is then retained in its retracted position .by means of low pressure air admitted through valve 94. A hydraulically damped abutment 96 is employed to absorb the momentum of the carriag II as it reaches the end of the traverse. It will be noted that the use of the pinion and rack arrangement for return of the carriage II permits the use of a. cylinder 88 having a stroke of but half the length of travel of the carriage II.

In the normal operation of my apparatus a cycle will begin with the carriage II in its fully retracted position. A limit switch 9"! is operated by the carriage when retracted and this switch must be closed in order for a cycle to begin. This is a necessary precaution to insure that the driving block 59 is properly positioned with respect to the arm 51.

With the apparatus thus initially positioned the advancing stock closes the flag switch I2 energizing relay I6 as explained. The closing of relay I6 further causes energization of relay 99, and consequently of solenoids Hi0 and 61; simultaneously closing valve 94 to relieve the low air pressure from the cylinder 88 and opening valve 66 to release the single revolution clutch 55 to initiate acceleration of the carriag II. -A limit switch ml is operated by suitable movement of the clutch 55, or the carriage II if desired, to energize relays 98 and I02. The closing of relay 98 deenergizes relay I6 and clutch operating solenoid 01, and energizes solenoid I03 to admit air into cylinders 31 and through valv 46, thus clamping the carriage firmly to the advancing stock. The clutch continues to rotate until reaching its initial position, whereupon it is 8. stopped by the lever 03; The closing of relay I02 energizes solenoid I04 to begin inward feeding of the cutting tool 25 at a predetermined rate as governed :by the adjustment of the needle valve 32. Initial movement of the yoke 29 which actuates tool 25 sets limit switch I05 to energize relay I05, while continued movement of the tool to completely sever the stock opens the limit switch II2 deenergizing relay I02 and solenoid I04 to cause rapid retraction of the tool 25. Upon full retraction of the tool 25 the limit switch I05 resets to energize relay I0'l. The latter relay I01, when energized, causes energization of relay I08 and deenergization of relays 98, I06 and 99. At this point the timer 83 begins to time out to close relay I09 after a predetermined time interval. The relays 98, and 99, when deenergized, cause, respectively, releasing of the tube clamping elements, and opening of the valv 94 to supply low pressure air'to the carriage return cylinder 88. The energized relay I08 initiates the timer 83, while the relay IIl'I energizes solenoid IIO to open valve 93 and admit high pressure air to the carriage return cylinder 88.

After the carriage II has been retracted sufficiently to clear the severed end of the stock the timer 83 fires closing relay I09 and actuating the dumping solenoid 82. The latter solenoid opens valve 8| admitting air to cylinder I9 and causing the shaft I4 to rotate to dispose of the severed length of tubing. A limit switch III is actuated upon sumcient rotation of the shaft 54 to deenergize relay I00, and consequently I09, to return the shaft '14 to its normal tube supporting position. Th timer 83 may be easily and accurately adjusted to suit the prevailing conditions, as determined principally by the velocity of the tubing, by adjustment of a potentiometer I I3. The said potentiometer is operative to regulate the rate of charge of capacitor H4 and thus determines the time interval between energization of the timer and passage of current to the relay I09.

Continued retraction of the carriage II causes limit switch to be tripped deenergizing relay I07 to remove the high pressure air from the cylinder 88. Low pressure air is of course still applied to retain the carriage in its retracted position until the next cycle is initiated by tripping of the flag switch I2.

As a safety precaution I provide an overtravel limit switch II5 which, if tripped by advance of the carriage I I to the forward end of its traverse, will energize relays 98 and I02, and deenergize relay 1 01 to unclamp the tube, retract the cutting tool, and return the carriage to its restricted position. Additional contacts, not shown, may be utilized to stop the operation of the tube mill if desired.

It should now be apparent that I have provided improved arrangements for moving a fiying cutoff assembly through its required reciprocatory cycle and for controlling the actuation of the various essential components of the complete cut-oil assembly which accomplish the objects initially set out. Foremost, the use of the mechanical accelerating device in combination with the stock clamping means of the carriage not only insures the best possible acceleration of the carriage to synchronous feed with the stock but also insures that during the actual cutting or parting operation the stock will remain stationary with respect to the carriage for maximum safety, high rate of speed and most efficient functioning of the parting or cutting device employed: The ruse of direct aeurrent 3101". energiz- 1 ing: the racceleratingmlutch: initiating. solenoid in :response to closure 2of'rthe' ttargetswitch insures that the "delay: inherent. in the operation of this "and tclosely zassociated :oontrol instrumentalities will 'beconsistent in eachzsucceeding cycle of operation so that uniform: results will be obtained in the operation of :the :complete apparatus. Since synchronous :speed of the rcarriage *with respect. to the stock is automatically attained under all conditions due to thamechanicalaccelerating mechanism r and abeoause of i the .uni-

form time delay in the initiation'of operation b1 the acceleratingsmeans it is possible to accurately predetermine and maintain thelen-gth of-stcck' pieces being cut simply by shifting the itarget switch back: andrforth: asrrequired. and: this may be accomplished by remotecontrol asexplained above. The controls provide t'readily adjustable means for correlating itheirequired cutting 'or parting time with the character :of, the :stock being out and its speed of movement andllike- Wise readily radjustable lemeans. Jforv timingthe :operationof the severed tubedumping-means and since thesemaybeiadjusted duringactual operation of the mechanism it is possible to set up the completemechanism for maximum cinciency of operation undersall conditionsof service.

The above described 'embodiment of the invention should i'be-considered as illustrative only as v obviously :znany changes may :be i made therein Without departing fromthe spirit or scope of the. invention. Reference should .therefore': be

i had 'to i the appended claims indetermining 1 the scope of the. invention.

Iclaim:

1.1'n a machine for *severing predetermined lengths from tubing continuously advancing longitudinally "from -a tube forming mill, the combination of "a base, 'a carriage mountedxon said :base for :reciprocatoryimovement along the pass line of said tubing, cam means operated by said tube forming mill and havingdiscontinuous engagement with said'carriage to initially "accelerate isaid carriage from ETD zsaid arm having :a follower :at its outer end adapted tocontactth'e cam surfaceqof said driv- ;ing block, :and means directly associated with the speed of movement .ofsaid tubingoperative to rotatesaiddriving arm, the arrangement being such thatthe-longitudinalcomponent of the motionuof said .follower is applied to said cam surface to thus acceleratersaid driving .block and .said carriage.

4. In a machine for severingpredetermined lengths from tubing continuously "advancing longitudinally from a tube forming mill, the com- .bination of a base-a carriage mountedon-isaid 'basefor reciprocatory movement along the pass "line of-said tubing, cam means operated byssaid -"tube formingmill and having discontinuousengagement with said-carriage to initially acceler- ,ate said carriag from "rest ,to movement syncarriage to its initial position.

irchronous withxsaid tubing, saidcarn meanszb'e- .inginoperativeto effect movement 'of said car- :triage other thansaid initial accelerationgailiniit switch adapted upon actuation by: said Wad-vaneingtubing to operate said cam means and effect saidinitial acceleration, means on said i'can'iage to clamp said carriage to said tubingwhereby continued synchronous ,movement ,of said carriage is effected by saidtubing, ase'conddi-mit 5. In a machine for severing predetermined lengths from tubing continuously advancing longitudinally, the. combination of a base, a can riage mounted .on itsaid base .ZfCII' ":reciprocatory "movement along thetpass line of said tubingicam I means driven synchronouslyrwith the movement rest to movement synchronous with saidtubing,

said cam means'being inoperative to effect movement of said carriage othertha'n saidinitial acceleration, means operative fifollowingsaid acceleration to clamp said carriage to said tubing whereby continued synchronous movement .of said carriage is efiectedbysai'd tubing, cutting means mounted on said carriage andadapted tosever said tubing While said carriage. is clamped thereto, and means independent of said cam f means to return said carriage following a severing operation.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 further characterized by said cam means comprising a driving block extending longitudinally outward of said carriage and having a vertical end face, a driving arm adapted to rotate about an axis normal to the pass line of said tubing, said arm having a follower at its outer end adapted to contact the end face of said driving block, and means including a stand of said tube forming mill to rotate said arm to cause associated accelerating movement of said driving block and said carriage.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 further characterized by said cam means comprising a driving block extending longitudinally outward of said carriage and having a cam surface at its outer end, a driving arm adapted to rotate about an axis normal to the pass line of said tubing,

of said'tubing and/having discontinuous engage- 1118111 "with said :carriage to initially accelerate said carriagefrom rest to .movement synchronone with said tubinggsaid 'cam mea'nssbeingiinoperative to effect a movement of said carriage other than. said initialacceleration-means: operative immediately following said. initial acceleration to clamp said carriage to said tubing whereby continued synchronous :movcment of said carriage is effected by said'tubinga cutting device mounted on said :carriage adapted to'sever "saidtubingawhile said carriage is clamped" thereto, "anidmeansiindependent of saidccam means and operative upon: the completionofi a severingoperation to cause said tubing to be released from said carriage and cause said carriage to be returned to its initial position.

6. In a machine for severing predetermined lengths from tubing continuously advancing longitudinally from a tube forming mill, the combination of a base, a carriage mounted on said base for reciprocatory movement along the pass line of said tubing, cam means operated by said tube forming mill and having discontinuous engagement with said carriage to initially accelerate said carriage from rest to movement synchonous with said tubing, said cam means being inoperative to eiiect movement of said carriag other than said initial acceleration, clamping means operative following said initial acceleration to clamp said carriage to said tubing whereby continued synchronous movement of said carriage is effected by said tubing, cutting means mounted on said carriage and adapted to sever said tubing while said carriage is clamped thereto, means independent of said cam means to return said carriage to its initial posi-' tion following a severing operation, and means to actuat said cam means including a limit switch positioned in the path of advance of said tubing and a single revolution clutch operative in response to the closing of said limit switch to release said cam means to cause acceleration of said carriage.

7. In a tube severing machine having a base, a carriage slidable on said base, means on said carriage for severing a tube, and means for clamping said carriage to said tube; the combination of a driving block secured to said carriage, said driving block having a rearwardly disposed cam surface, a rotatably mounted driving arm having a cam follower near its: outer end adapted to bear against the cam surface of said driving block, means associated with said,

tubing to cause rotation of said drivingarm in proportion to the speed of advance of said tubing, and means for initiating said rotation including a limit switch operable by said tubing, a single revolution clutch operable in response to the actuation of said limit switch to connect said driving arm to the rotating means therefor, and a second limit switch operative in response to a predetermined movement of said driving arm to actuate said means for clamping said carriage to said tube.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 further including means mounting said first mentioned limit switch for slidable movement parallel with the axis of advance of said tubing, and power operated means for slidably moving said limit switch.

9. In a tube severing machine having a base, a carriage slidable on said base, tube severing means on said carriage, and means foriclamping longitudinally advancing tubing to said carriage; the combination of a normally energized fluid-pressure device in said base to 'yieldably retain said carriage in initial startingposition, a crank having a free follower on its outer end and adapted to rotate about an axis transverse to the axis of movement of the tubing, means to rotate said crank at a predetermined angular velocity relative to the linear speed of the advancing tubing whereby upon said crank reaching a predetermined angular position said foilower has a forward component of velocity coincident with the speed of movement of the tubing, said carriage having a surface adapted to be discontinuously engaged by said follower whereby said carriage may be accelerated to a linear speed synchronous with the linear speed of the tubing, means comprising an adjustable flag switch engageable by the leading end of the tubing to initiate said crank rotating means and to deenergize said fluid-pressure device, and means to energize said clamping means and said tube severing means in sequence.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 further including means comprising said fluid-pressure device to return said carriage back to its initial starting position, means to apply an initial high fluid pressure to said device to accelerate the return movement of said carriage, and means to thereafter apply a lower fluid pressure to said device to retain said carriage in its initial starting position.

11. Apparatus according to claim 9 further including means mounting said flag switch for sliding movement parallel with the axis of movement of the tubing, and power operated means to slidably move said limit switch to desired adjusted position.

12. In a flying cut-off of the type having a base, a carriage mounted on said base for reciprocatory movement between extended limit position, stock severing means on said carriage and means to cause said carriage to move in either direction along its reciprocatory path; the improvement comprising means to support stock advancing forwardly of said stock severing device, means to cause said carriage to move synchronously with said stock during operation of said stock severing means, means to sense the completion of operation of said severing means to thereupon initiate return movement of said carriage independent of its position on said base, means to withdraw said supporting means, and an adjustable timer arranged to be initiated by said means to sense and operative upon timing out its period to actuate said means to withdraw.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 22,114 Borzym June 16, 1942 129,113 Drake July 16, 1872 979,898 Steele Dec. 27, 1910 1,348,635 Fretter Aug. 3, 1920 2,186,061 Berg Jan. 9, 1940 2,209,995 Morris Aug. 6, 1940 2,325,431 Shippy July 27, 1943 2,326,463 Johnston Aug. 10, 1943 2,350,975 Rodder June 6, 1944 2,540,166 Frank Feb. 6, 1951 2,547,157 Gibbons Apr. 3, 1951 2,562,879 Abbey Aug. 7, 1951 

